Troops Regroup For New `Council Wars` Battles

May 01, 1986|By Text by Robert Davis.

With his success in Tuesday`s special aldermanic runoff elections, Mayor Harold Washington Wednesday began his fourth year in office with a new-found, if razor-thin, control of the Chicago City Council.

The victories of Marlene Carter and Luis Gutierrez, Washington-endorsed candidates, in the 15th and 26th Wards, respectively, shifted the balance of city council power to the closest margin possible: a 25-25 split, with the mayor having a crucial tie-breaking vote.

Washington spent the first three years of his term encumbered by a council dominated by a recalcitrant 29-member aldermanic bloc led by his political rival, Ald. Edward Vrdolyak (10th).

But victories by his supporters in the March 18 special aldermanic elections and in Tuesday`s runoffs have changed the political face of the council and also are expected to change the legislative process.

Although there is little, if any, dispute that Washington will have a tie-breaking vote on matters on the council floor, the next field of battle appears to be developing in the council`s intricate committee system, where Vrdolyak forces have managed to bottle up dozens of Washington`s appointments to various commissions and panels for months.

Some Vrdolyak followers have said that Washington`s tie-breaking vote cannot be used in ``internal`` council matters, such as withdrawing appointments or proposals from committees. It appears that issue is headed for the courts, the scene of so many council battles in the past, and lengthy litigation could dull the edge of the mayor`s new power blade.

While basking in his victory this week, the mayor cautioned the ``loyal minority`` not to use the council ``machinery`` to tie up and stymie his proposals.

But even though the sides in the continuing ``Council Wars`` saga have changed because of the federal court-ordered elections, it can safely be said that neither side is going to give up without a fight.

HISPANIC FACTION GATHERS STRENGTH

The special aldermanic elections created what could become a significant new political factor in city government and Chicago politics. Four of the city council`s 50 members now are of Hispanic descent, three more than in the council elected in 1983. A coalition formed by them could be powerful beyond its numbers.

Aldermen Jesus Garcia (22d) and Luis Gutierrez (26th) are seen to be lodged firmly in the Washington camp, and Aldermen Juan Soliz (25th) and Miguel Santiago (31st) are considered to be Vrdolyak loyalists.

But with a 25-25 split in the council, their votes could become important ``swing votes,`` giving them a bargaining chip in any political maneuvering.